Semiconductor Device with Overcurrent Protection
A semiconductor device with an over-current detection feature is disclosed. According to an example of the invention the device includes: a semiconductor chip including a load current path that conducts a load current in response to an input signal activating the load current flow. A current sensor arrangement provides a measurement signal representing the load current. An evaluation circuit is configured to compare the measurement signal with a first threshold and to signal an over-current when the measurement signal exceeds the first threshold after a delay time period starting from the activation of the load current flow has elapsed.
The present invention relates to the field of semiconductor devices and methods for operating such devices, especially to power semiconductor devices including a novel over-current protection.
BACKGROUNDSemiconductor devices, especially power semiconductor devices such as power semiconductor switches often include either a current limitation functionality or an over-current protection (i.e., an over-current switch-off) in order to avoid a thermal destruction of the device due to over-heating. In the first case the load current of the semiconductor device is limited to a predefined maximum value (e.g., 30 amperes) if the load resistance in the load current path is too low whereas in the latter case the semiconductor device (e.g., the power switch) is turned off if a predefined load current threshold (e.g., 60 amperes) is exceeded.
Both of the above mentioned principles (current limiting or over-current switch-off) have some implications and thus it depends on the application which one of the two protection principles is more suitable. If, for example, the load is a lamp, which has a high inrush current during a short start-up period, a current limitation to a predefined maximum current may be suitable. However, in case of a short circuit this predefined maximum current may be too high in order to avoid an over-heating of the device. To resolve this problem some semiconductor devices additionally include temperature sensors for triggering countermeasures in case of over-temperature. Such temperature sensors entail a more complex design of the device thus higher costs. If, instead of current limiting, an over-current protection (i.e., a shut-down in response to an over-current) is employed the current threshold would have to be that low in order to reliably avoid over-heating of the device that, as a consequence, the high inrush current (for example, during the start-up period of a lamp) would also trigger the over-current switch-off.
Summing up, it can be concluded that the protection circuits, irrespective of which one of the above-discussed protection principles is to be used, have to be either designed for a high inrush current or designed for a lower “nominal” current. To cope with both cases (start-up and normal operation) additional temperature sensors are needed. Thus, there is a general need for a semiconductor device including an inexpensive protection mechanism that provides sufficient protection against over-heating and thermal destruction during the start-up period of the device as well as during normal operation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONA semiconductor device with an over-current detection feature is disclosed. According to an example of the invention the device includes: a semiconductor chip including a load current path that conducts a load current in response to an input signal activating the load current flow. A current sensor arrangement provides a measurement signal representing the load current. An evaluation circuit is configured to compare the measurement signal with a first threshold and to signal an over-current when the measurement signal exceeds the first threshold after a delay time period starting from the activation of the load current flow has elapsed.
Further, a method for operating a semiconductor device so as to provide an over-current detection is disclosed. According to an example of the invention the method includes: activating the load current flow in response to an input signal. The load current is measured so as to provide a measurement signal representing the load current. The measurement signal is compared with a first threshold. An over-current is signalled when the measurement signal exceeds the first threshold after a delay time period starting from the activation of the load current flow has elapsed.
The invention can be better understood with reference to the following drawings and description. The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, instead emphasis being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. Moreover, in the figures, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts. In the drawings:
One example of the invention is illustrated in
The semiconductor device illustrated in
In one example of the invention the evaluation circuit 20 may be configured to trigger an over-current switch-off of the load current flow, e.g., via the error signal SERR, in case the measurement signal SiD exceeds the threshold iSWITCH-OFF after the delay time period TD. In the example of
The semiconductor device illustrated in
In order to ensure the over-current switch-off the control circuit may, according to one example of the invention, be configured to blank the input signal SIN in response to an over-current signal (e.g., error signal SERR) generated by the evaluation circuit 20 so as to deactivate the load current flow. This blanking function may be implemented with the help of a gate as will be discussed further below with respect to
An over-current switch off is typically the result of a short circuit of the load current path of the semiconductor device (e.g., of the semiconductor switch T1 in the example of
There are several options to react on an over-current switch off. Firstly, the circuit (e.g., the external controller) providing the reset signal may be configured to wait for a defined period of time before generating a reset signal for reactivating the semiconductor device. Secondly, the circuit providing the reset signal may be configured to wait until a measured temperature of the transistor (see DMOS T1 in
Further a current measurement arrangement 10 is coupled to the load current path for providing a measurement signal SID that represents the load current iD. There are many possibilities for measuring the load current iD such as, for example, the use of a shunt resistor or, alternatively, the use of a so-called sense transistor as, for example, described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,553,084.
The current measurement signal SiD is supplied to a gate circuit 31 included in the control circuit 30 and to the evaluation circuit 20. The gate circuit 31 generates the control signal VG (i.e., the gate voltage) for switching the transistor T1 on and off in accordance with an input signal SIN. In order to limit the gate current iD to a maximum current value iLIMIT (see also
The short-circuit and over-current detection function may be implemented by the evaluation circuit 20 of the present example. It receives the current measurement signal SiD and, as mentioned above, signals an error by setting the error signal SERR to an appropriate logic level. Therefore, the evaluation circuit 20 may include a comparator 22 (with or without hysteresis) receiving the measurement signal SiD and providing a logic “1” level (i.e., a high level in the present example) at its output in case the drain current iD exceeds the threshold level iSWITCH-OFF. However, in order to avoid an over-current switch off during a start-up period of transient high inrush currents the output signal of the comparator 22 by the AND gate 24, which is connected between the output of the comparator 22 and a set input of an RS-latch 21. Assuming the AND gate 24 does not blank the comparator output signal, the comparator sets the latch 21 when the load current iD exceeds the threshold level iSWITCH-OFF. The inverted output of the latch 21 provides the error signal SERR in the present example (i.e., SERR=0 if iD once exceeds iSWITCH-OFF after a reset of the latch).
The blanking of the output of the comparator 22 is, in the present example, realized by employing a monostable trigger circuit 23, also called “one shot”, that, when triggered provides a single pulse of a predefined length. That pulse length is equal to the above-mentioned delay time period TD during which the over-current detection is “disabled” by blanking the comparator output signal. The monostable trigger circuit 23 is triggered essentially at the same time as the transistor T1 is switched on (thereby neglecting propagation delays that always occur in logic circuits). The output pulse of the monostable trigger circuit 23 is supplied to an inverting input of the AND gate 24 to provide the above-described function of blanking the comparator output signal.
As a result the latch 21 is set when the load current exceeds the threshold iSWITCH-OFF after the delay time period TD has elapsed, whereby the delay time period TD starts when the transistor T1 is activated (i.e., switched on). The delay time period TD may, dependent on the actual application, vary from a few milliseconds up to several seconds, e.g., from 300 ms to 5000 ms.
The over-current signal SERR remains set (e.g., to SERR=0 in the present example) thus signalling an over-current until the latch 21 is reset. In the example of
Although the present invention and its advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions, and alterations can be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. For example, it will be readily understood by those skilled in the art that the voltages and their polarities may be altered while remaining within the scope of the present invention.
Moreover, the scope of the present application is not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments of the process, machine, manufacture, composition of matter, means, methods, and steps described in the specification. As one of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate from the disclosure of the present invention, processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps, presently existing or later to be developed, that perform substantially the same function or achieve substantially the same result as the corresponding embodiments described herein may be utilized according to the present invention. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to include within their scope such processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps.
Claims
1. A semiconductor device comprising:
- a semiconductor chip including a load current path that conducts a load current in response to an input signal activating a load current flow;
- a current sensor arrangement that provides a measurement signal representing the load current; and
- an evaluation circuit that is configured to compare the measurement signal with a first threshold and to signal an over-current when the measurement signal exceeds the first threshold after a delay time period that starts from the activation of the load current flow.
2. The semiconductor device of claim 1, wherein the evaluation circuit is configured to trigger an over-current switch-off of the load current flow when the measurement signal exceeds the first threshold after the delay time period.
3. The semiconductor device of claim 1, further comprising a control circuit that is configured to
- activate and deactivate the load current flow in accordance with the input signal; and
- limit the load current to a maximum current value.
4. The semiconductor device of claim 3, wherein the first threshold is lower than the maximum current value.
5. The semiconductor device of claim 3, wherein the control circuit is configured to blank the input signal in response to an over-current signal generated by the evaluation circuit so as to deactivate the load current flow.
6. The semiconductor device of claim 1, wherein the evaluation circuit is configured to maintain the over-current signal until a reset signal signals to reset the over-current signal.
7. The semiconductor device of claim 6, wherein the reset signal is generated by an external controller.
8. The semiconductor device of claim 6, wherein the input signal that activates the load current flow is used as the reset signal.
9. The semiconductor device of claim 1, wherein the evaluation circuit comprises a latch that is configured to store the occurrence of an exceedance of the first threshold by the load current and correspondingly to signal an over-current until the latch is reset in response to an appropriate reset signal.
10. The semiconductor device of claim 1, further comprising a power semiconductor switch conducting the load current.
11. A method for operating a semiconductor device that comprises a semiconductor chip including a load current path for conducting a load current, the method comprising:
- activating the load current flow in response to an input signal;
- measuring the load current so as to provide a measurement signal representing the load current;
- comparing the measurement signal with a first threshold; and
- signalling an over-current when the measurement signal exceeds the first threshold after a delay time period that starts from the activation of the load current flow.
12. The method of claim 11, further comprising triggering an over-current switch-off of the load current flow when the measurement signal exceeds the first threshold after the delay time period.
13. The method of claim 11, further comprising limiting the load current to a maximum current value, wherein the first threshold is lower than the maximum current value.
14. The method of claim 13, further comprising blanking the input signal in response to an over-current signal thus deactivating the load current flow.
15. The method of claim 11, further comprising receiving a reset signal; and
- maintaining the over-current signal until a reset command is identified in the reset signal.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein the input signal activating the load current flow is used as the reset signal.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 30, 2009
Publication Date: Jun 30, 2011
Patent Grant number: 8045310
Inventors: ALBERTO ZANARDI (VILLACH), ERICH SCHEIKL (VILLACH), ROBERT ILLING (VILLACH), HERBERT HOPFGARTNER (LIESERBRUECKE)
Application Number: 12/649,974
International Classification: H02H 3/093 (20060101);